Charlotte NC treatment links headaches and chiropractic care

November 12, 2012

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Charlotte chiropractor cares for your headaches

Chronic headache sufferers in Charlotte NC are becoming increasingly aware of the beneficial link between headaches and chiropractic care shown time and time again by clinical tests. The hands-on, drug-free treatments for headache provided by Charlotte chiropractors exemplify the very best that chiropractic care has to offer. Fundamental to chiropractic care is a healthy and fully functional spine, which is at the core of our ability to move, to feel, and to heal.

Causes of headache

When your head hurts, all you want is for the pain to go away; you really do not care why it hurts, only that it does. However, getting effective relief is difficult unless the cause is known, which is why seeking chiropractic care right away is often a good idea. Many of the multiple headache symptoms patients suffer – dizziness, light sensitivity, throbbing pain, and nausea – are common all types of headaches, including migraines, cluster headaches, tension headaches, and cervicogenic headaches. While chiropractic care usually brings relief to each of these headache types, too, cervicogenic headache is the most common, also the most often overlooked and misdiagnosed, type of headache.

Is your headache cervicogenic

Pain which starts at the base of your skull and moves forward to the front of your head is typical of a cervicogenic headache. Cervicogenic headache literally means a pain in the head which is caused by the neck. How can your neck cause a headache? When your neck is not functioning or moving the way it should, your muscles react by tightening up to protect it. This stress in your upper spine, or cervical area, causes irritation and swelling near the artery shielded within your spine; the resulting decrease in blood supply to your head creates pain. With this type of headache, you experience pain almost every day, and moving your head and neck around typically makes it feel worse. Pain intensity may fluctuate from mild to severe. Your Charlotte chiropractor can often quickly identify this type of headache by noting sensitivity at the base of your skull.

The upper spine connection and your Charlotte chiropractor

In addition to arthritis and repetitive poor neck positioning, car accident injury and stress can also impede the natural functioning of your upper spine. Cervical spine damage is a frequent result of an auto accident; whiplash is a commonly recognized car accident injury, occurring when the neck is subjected to high velocity movement during a collision. Any misalignment or injury to the upper spine impacts the spinal nerves, leading to muscle stress. Another kind of stress, emotional stress, also can tighten neck muscles and impact the artery providing blood to your brain. Stress headaches are typically cervicogenic headaches.

Headaches and Charlotte chiropractic care

You should have your headache evaluated by a professional, like the caring Charlotte chiropractors at ChiroCarolina®. After thorough examination and assessment, the cause of your headache can be determined, and if the examination indicates your headache can be helped with chiropractic care, an effective treatment plan can be designed for you. Chiropractic care for headaches typically includes gentle spinal manipulation to painlessly stretch and rotate your neck, which allows for unimpeded function in your cervical spine. Additional gentle and soothing chiropractic techniques further assist your spine in returning to natural function, alleviating the cause of your headache.

Headaches and chiropractic care is just one reason to visit your Charlotte chiropractor. When you choose physical treatment for physical injury in the form of drug free chiropractic care, you elect to allow your body to heal itself by correcting spinal misalignments or injury. By restoring full function to your spine, you are allowing your body to operate the way it should. To learn more about headaches and chiropractic care, contact us today!